Instructor Spotlight: Melissa McDonald | Seneca Creek Community Church ESOL Program

November 12, 2021

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what has inspired you to be a teacher?

I am the proud mom of four young adult children (19-27) and am grateful to have two talkative cats and two adorable little dogs to keep me company now that my kids have soared from the nest.  I am an elementary school library media specialist in Montgomery County Public schools. I am a lifelong learner and I believe that the library is a place for readers to imagine, explore, create, and soar! I serve at my church in various areas, which is very important to me.  I also serve on the planning committee of the Gaithersburg Book Festival, and on the Board of Trustees for the Friends of the Library, Montgomery County.  I believe it is extremely important to serve my community, and to give of my time and talents to others. I love helping others, and teaching English to my adult learners is so very rewarding.


What are the biggest challenges you face as an ESOL teacher?

I teach at my church’s ESOL program at Seneca Creek Community Church.  We believe that the work we do with learners is a ministry to our community. The biggest challenge I face as an ESOL teacher is that I cannot do more for my adult learners. Currently, I teach Intermediate II, so my learners have a good understanding of the English language, but they sometimes get discouraged. They are so supportive of each other and encourage each other when they stumble. I remind my adult learners that English is a difficult language to learn and most of them are not immersed in it on a daily basis.  I remind them to not give up, even if, and when, things are challenging.  Effort, motivation, and persistence are so important for achieving their goals.  I am very proud of the time that my adult learners put into their own education, and I hope that I am helping them achieve their goals.


What has teaching remotely during a global pandemic taught you?

I am an MCPS elementary school librarian, and a saying we have in our school library media program is to be “brave before perfect", which also applies to teaching remotely. At the beginning, when our ESOL program first switched to remote learning, things weren't perfect, but we had a dedicated team of volunteers at Seneca Creek Community Church willing to step out in faith. The pandemic taught me that thinking outside the box was not only important, but essential, and  that my adult learners were up to the challenge.   Offering our classes virtually has helped some of my learners attend when they wouldn’t have been able to in person.  For example, if their child was sick, or if they were out of town, they could still attend class. I have one learner who attended class while she made her deliveries for work, and others as they traveled with their family.  I even taught my class one Saturday morning from my hotel room when I was out-of-town.


What advice would you give to a new ESOL teacher or volunteer?

My advice is to be open and welcoming and to build relationships with your learners. Provide lots of opportunities for your learners to speak with each other.  I start each class with a fun discussion question and encourage each of them to answer and respond to each other in a casual, conversational way.  For example, I might ask, “What is your favorite season, and why?” Or “Would you rather play basketball or soccer, and why?” It helps them find commonalities with each other (and me), and often brings on joyful laughter as we share our stories.  In my experience, adult learners appreciate everything you do, and don’t expect you to be perfect. We learn best from our mistakes. I often use my imperfections as a learning tool - I have been speaking and writing in English for 55 years, and I don’t always get it right!


What have been your favorite pastimes during COVID-19?

I love to read and write.  I read a lot of children’s books for my job, but I also love to read them - especially picture books.  I also enjoy reading historical fiction, mysteries, and romance novels. I write poetry and I have been writing children’s stories that I hope will get published some day!  I walk a lot with my dogs, and really enjoy getting out in nature.  Light hiking around the lake at Seneca Creek State Park or a bit more advanced hiking at Sugarloaf Mountain is so invigorating, and good for my soul.  I also started indoor rock climbing with two of my kids. They are so encouraging, and it really empowers me when I can reach the top of a 40-50 foot wall!


What do you find most rewarding about your work?

The most rewarding part of teaching is when I see a learner’s proud smile when they succeed in mastering a tricky pronunciation or grammatical rule. I also love to see my learners help each other, and to listen as they share in their successes when they have been able to accomplish something because their English has improved.


What is something you learned about your students during this remote teaching period?

I have learned that my adult learners have overcome many challenges and are determined to continue improving their lives for themselves and their families. We pray for each other during challenges and are encouraging of each other’s successes. We have a WhatsApp group so that we can reach each other throughout the week. I tell them often that they are my heroes.

End-of-Year Celebration Recap

By Kairy Castro Barrios • June 18, 2025
Last Friday, June 13th, 2025, MCAEL hosted its End-of-Year Celebration & Sharing Session, attended by adult English Instructors and program staff representing 24 programs from the MCAEL network. This End-of-Year Celebration was designed to bring ESOL professionals together to celebrate their dedication and commitment to helping a community of non-native English speakers learn English as a second language, thereby supporting them in their daily lives. Their passion for teaching English as a second language contributed to everyone's eagerness to share the ways their lessons work, teaching methods that engage learners, and identifying the specific instruction skills they'd like to develop. One English instructor mentioned that, towards the end of class, she plays "Hangman" with the learners to help with spelling words; so far, no one has been hanged! ๏ปฟ All English instructors and program staff share a common goal: to make a difference in their communities and make a direct impact on those around them. During this celebration, they were asked, “what inspired you to work in the ESOL field?" Instructors mentioned that enabling a community to learn English empowers them to grow and better integrate themselves within society. Brenda Voit, an ESOL instructor at the nonprofit Identity, mentioned that she is an English instructor who fulfills community needs and is passionate about the work she does. Christine Patton; an ESOL teacher at JSSA, spoke about her family’s personal experience emigrating from Germany to the United States and the shared frustrations of not knowing English, as well as navigating that experience in their daily lives. Christine views Montgomery County’s ability to provide free and accessible English classes as a reassuring sign of support. This invaluable resource can make a difference in the lives of many, creating a vibrant, growing coalition of Adult English learners. Kairy Castro Barrios MCAEL Intern

Not “Just” English Classes

By Gerard Etienne • June 17, 2025
This past Saturday, I was invited to speak at the Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA)’s Learning English Together graduation ceremony – and what a wonderful event it was! The first thing that surprised me was the number of people in attendance: there were over 320 attendees, of which 146 were proud graduates. Even more impressive is the fact that there were another 150 graduates who did not attend the ceremony! But what stood out even more was how important this ceremony clearly was to so many of the learners. As a guest speaker, I joined the entrance procession and lined up with the graduates. The pride and excitement were palpable, not just among the learners, but among the instructors as well. Almost everyone was dressed up for the occasion. This was the first clue that these weren’t “just” English classes to the graduates—this was a meaningful milestone, a real achievement. As the ceremony progressed and certificates were awarded, several learners gave speeches. I found myself nearly in tears as I listened to them describe what learning English had meant in their lives. It would be easy to reduce ESOL classes to simply language instruction for immigrants—but these classes are so much more than that. ๏ปฟ They are a gateway to connection, self-expression, better jobs, and more education. They foster belonging, friendships, relationships, and a kind of freedom that only language can provide. For many learners, these classes are truly life-changing, as many of the student speakers described. And the fact that these classes were so meaningful to them is a testament to the care and quality of instruction that JSSA and its instructors have provided. As each speaker shared their story, I thought back to my own English-learning journey. I could relate strongly to their experiences: the feeling of isolation, the frustration of not being able to say the simplest things, the fear of picking up the phone, the avoidance and anxiety around engaging with others. And the feeling of sometimes being reduced to “someone who doesn’t speak English” – as if that’s all there was to me. Learning English is a way out of those limitations. It gives learners the chance to grow, to build relationships, and to show who they really are. Congratulations to the graduates!

MCAEL Announces $1,465,853 in Grants to Support Adult ESOL Learning in Montgomery County

By Emma Starr • June 16, 2025
The Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL), announces $1,465,853 in grants awarded to support adult English language learning programs across Montgomery County. Funding for the grants is provided in partnership with the Montgomery County Government, with the support of County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council. Adult English language learners experience life-changing benefits as participants in these programs, from being able to navigate the health system and their children’s schools, to attaining better-paying jobs. The goal of the MCAEL grants program is to increase the availability of adult ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) services that support identified community needs and diverse populations, while also improving the quality of those services. Blanca, who was a teacher in Guatemala and is now a housekeeper, is currently enrolled in her third consecutive English language class. She says learning English has “made communication with doctors, teachers – everyone – easier. I have more confidence and am able to speak clearly with others.” Blanca hopes to eventually get a better-paying job so that “I can continue to raise my family in the U.S. while also supporting those still living in Guatemala. But my most important goal is to see my three children graduate from college.” This year, grants have been awarded to 24 organizations that provide 29 programs across Montgomery County, including eight brand new programs, both small and large in scale. In addition, MCAEL is actively pursuing the expansion of services to communities where adult ESOL learning opportunities are scarce and there are increased barriers to participation. MCAEL thanks the panel of community members who donated extensive time and energy to review and evaluate the grant applications. MCAEL also thanks the Montgomery County Government for increasing funding for program grants this year, as well as for their ongoing support of English language learning opportunities in Montgomery County. Read the complete Grants Announcement.